This week has included the making of my favourite handmade soap bar "Honey Bee". Honey Bee has completely natural, plant based, ingredients including unrefined organic shea butter, organic honey and finely ground, certified, gluten free oats.

Here's a short 'behind the scenes in the soap studio' video of me cutting the soap bars and explaining this soaps skin loving qualities. (Loving the afternoon sunshine in the video!)

Did I mention at all it was my favourite soapbar? I did?! Well here are the reasons why.

It's gentle and extra moisturising

Unrefined and organic shea butter is added at the end of the soap making process. This means more of the shea butter is available to 'super-fat' the soap. This is what makes a bar more gentle and less drying on the skin. Organic honey also is a natural humectant. That's quite a fancy word but just means it draws moisture to the skin.   

 It's naturally antibacterial

The organic honey is also good for skin healing and has antibacterial properties. To keep as much of these properties within the soap, Honey Bee is blended at the lowest possible temperature. It's also kept cool during the next 24 hours so the soap doesn't overheat.

It's skin soothing and exfoliates gently

Honey Bee natural handmade soap also contains finely ground gluten free oats. Oats are known to be soothing to dry skin conditions. For example, many people use preparations of oats in bath water to help soothe eczema prone skin. These oats are really finely ground so that within the soap they exfoliate gently. They are certifed gluten free as for some individuals their gluten intolerance is so high that even oats cause an immune reaction.   

 It's unscented

If you are really sensitive skinned, like me, then unscented soap bars (and skincare products in general) may be better for you on a long term use basis. 

Is your dry and sensitive skin ready to try Honey Bee Natural Handmade Soap?

We have entered a new phase in our eczema home. Our co-operative toddler, who used to love to help moisturise her itchy little body, has gradually been replaced. In her place is a fiercely independent little girl of almost 4 who knows excatly what she wants, or in this case what she doesn't want!

I appreciate that she knows her own mind, as I grew up afraid to say boo to a goose, but in this case she is saying No to something that is good for her. Moisturising her eczema skin is vital to keep it in it's current, excellent conditon. I don't want to battle her all the time so what can practically can I do to keep skin moisturised in 'sneaky ways'?!

This is how I moisturise the girls skin 'stealth style'...

 Now you have your equipment ready, lets start using your kit and make bath bombs!

Here is bathbomb making kit tutorial #2 

Your pre-blended bathbomb base is the right consistency and you have your flower petals so now it's time to use the bath bomb mould and make your bath bombs!

Here is bathbomb making kit tutorial #3

I launched the Cider & Ginger Shampoo Bar in the spring of 2016 and it has steadily been growing in popularity. It is now in 80% of the order boxes I package up each week and recently over took "Rose Blush" Natural Soap and "Nourish Bed Time Face Mousse" in my bestseller rankings!

Why is it so popular?

I hope you are having fun experimenting with your Bathbomb Making Kit!

It feels great doesn't it when you finally get the knack of unmoulding without it crumbling! Don't be disheartened if it does crumble - still use it in your bath. It will fizz away and still release its lovely aromas and skin moisturising jojoba oil. I always have a jar on the go of 'home use' mishapes and crumbles.  

So let's talk about wrapping and displaying your bathbombs!

Do you battle eczema? Or perhaps you have sensitive skin and one of your children battles eczema? I'm sharing 6 very valuable things we have learned over the past 4 years coping with my youngest daughter's eczema. Number one and number 3 may really surprise you!